[Auto] Max Verstappen & Lewis Hamilton set for thrilling Formula 1 finale

[S e u o n g]

The most intense Formula 1 championship fight for years will be decided over the next two weekends in the Middle East.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen leads Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton by eight points. Races in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi bring the season to a close, both on tracks that contain unknowns for the teams and drivers.

Verstappen has the advantage - with his points lead, he can become champion on the new street track in Jeddah this weekend if results go his way.

But Hamilton has the momentum. He is heading into the climax of the season on the back of two convincing wins and with the performance trend clearly favoring his team.

So much is at stake. If Verstappen wins, it will mark the start of a new era-his first drivers' title, final confirmation of his status of him as the leading man of the new generation of F1 stars, and the end of seven years of Mercedes domination.

If Hamilton wins, he will set a new all-time record for championships. Already the most successful F1 driver in history, with more wins and pole positions than anyone else, and equal on titles with Michael Schumacher, an eighth crown would move him clear on every possible statistical measure.

 

 

The points situation
Verstappen can clinch his first title on Sunday in the following ways:

If he wins with fastest lap point, and Hamilton is lower than fifth
If he wins without fastest lap point, and Hamilton is lower than sixth
If he is second with fastest lap, and Hamilton is lower than ninth
If he is second and Hamilton does not score.
For practical purposes, it's simpler than that. In a normal race, without crashes, controversies or problems for either driver, the two title contenders will finish first and second.

They are faster than their team-mates, who will be subject to team orders to help them, and no other team is likely to be competitive enough to disrupt their battle.

In that context, what's at stake is simple. If Verstappen beats Hamilton in Saudi Arabia, the Dutchman is highly likely to end the season as champion.

A Verstappen win with Hamilton second would extend the Red Bull driver's points lead to either 14, 15, or 16 points, depending on who sets fastest lap, for which a point is awarded. With that margin, Hamilton would be relying on Verstappen hitting trouble in Abu Dhabi to have any chance of becoming champion.

But if Hamilton wins with Verstappen second, the gap between them will reduce to either nothing, one or two points. And that would set up a winner-takes-all showdown at Yas Marina.

 

 

 

LINK: https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/59468663